Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 52

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810


USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 52


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114


Ben Wilton was born in Carlyle, Illinois, June 4, 1830, and came to Ifillsboro with his father's family in 1838. The object of his father, Harry Wilton, in coming to Hillsboro, was to get the advantage of the Hillsboro Academy, which then had a high reputation as an educational insti- tution. Hillsboro was then considered the best educational center in this portion of Illinois. In 1850, Ben Wilton, with twenty-three others, went to California in search of gold. The twenty- four emigrants had eight wagons, there being three persons to the wagon. All of the twenty- fonr are now dead, except "Uncle" Ben. When Ben went to the Hillsboro Academy he knew cvery young man in the school and he said, prior to Mr. Copeland's death in February, 1914, that he and Boone Copeland so far as he knew, were the only ones now above. Edward Wyman or A. A. Trimper was the principal, he is not sure


-


-


RESIDENCE OF DR. E. B. STRANGE, HILLSBORO


1


903


HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


which, as they both taught at the time. "Uncle" Ben Wilton has the cane that his father used for many years of his public life. It is sup- posed to be of lignum-vitae wood, as it is very heavy. It was made from wood taken from the' remnants of the ship Constitution of Revolu- tionary fame. During the inauguration of President Pierce, Harry Wilton was permitted a seat on the inauguration platform, which was a temporary structure, and while listening to the exercises, the cane slipped from the lap of Mr. Wilton and went through a crack in the floor to the ground several feet down. Being anxious to regain it, Mr. Wilton gave a negro boy page who happened to be near a quarter of a dollar to crawl under the stage and rescue the cane and bring it to him, which he did much to his satis- faction. "Uncle" Ben and his family prize the cane very highly.


HILLSBORO HONORED.


This being the capital township, it is but natural to suppose that more county officials would be drawn from her residents than from any other portion of the county. This is true of hier representatives on the board of supervisors. Four different men have been selected from Hillsboro Township to preside over the county board. They were Wooten Harris, Charles A. Ramsey, James A. Brown and Bliss C. White.


SUPERVISORS.


Those who have served Hillsboro Township as supervisors have been as follows: George W. Mansfield and C. H. Missimore, 1873 ; Edward Lane, 1874; John F. Glenn, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1890, 1891 and 1892; R. H. Stewart, 1S7S; Wooten Harris, 1879, 1SS0 and 1SS1; John M. Cress, 1SS2; Charles A. Ramsey, 1SS3; Charles W. Bliss, 1SS4 and 1SS5; E. L. Waggoner, 1886; James A. Brown, 1SS7, 1SSS, 1SS9. 1893, 1894 and 1895: William Vawters, 1896; John M. Clotfelter, 1897, 189S, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904; Mikael T. Higgins, 1905, 1906, 1907 and 190S; Joseph Helston, 1909 and 1910; Carl Weber, 1911, 1912 and 1913 ; Bliss C. White, 1913 and 1914; John K. Beal, 1914, 1915 and 1916; Louis Barringer, 1915 and 1916. This township had two supervisors during its first year, but the detaching of Grisham 'removed the necessity till 1912, when owing to increase of population this again became permissible, ac- cording to state statute.


TOWN CLERKS.


The township books were opened by George H. Blackwelder in 1873, and he served two years. John M. Cress followed him for two years; then A. A. Cress came into the position and served through 1877, 1878, 1879, 1SS0, 1SS1, 1SS2 and 1SS3. In 1SS4, 1SS5, 1SS6, 1SS7, 1SSS and 1SS9, George C. Bryce held the quill. Then Fred W. Ludwig filled the office in 1890 and S. D. Canaday, in 1891. John V. Risk kept the minutes for two years, and in 1895, Henry Haller came in and served through the next five years. In 1900, E. C. Garflo tried his hand, followed by Charles H. Witherspoon, who shows that he was clerk during the next six years, but fails to name his associates. During 1907, Walter Qualls seems to have filled the office, and during 190S, 1909, 1910 and 1911, Orville Bass was the pen holder, and in 1913, Foster McDavid seems to have filled the position. He was followed by the present incumbent, Melville Miller, who seems to have a long tenure on the office.


ASSESSORS.


In 1873, George W. McPhail assessed the prop- erty of the township, and in 1874 and 1875, Calvin M. Paisley filled the office. Charles B. Turner assessed the property in 1876. Then came Thomas Stranding, who filled the office from 1877 to and including 1SS1; and then again in 1883, 1SS6 and 1SS7. Columbus A. Freeland was elected and served during 1SS4, 1SS5 and' 1900. A. M. Padem was in during 1SSS, and Thomas W. Seymour during 1SS9. E. C. Garflo came into office during 1890, serving during 1891, 1892, 1893, 1895 and 1896. W. C. Wood- ward was the assessor in 1894, and Julius M. Paisley filled the office in 1897. In 1898 and 1899. John O. Miller seems to have been the occupant of the office. Then the undefeatable John H. Thompson came into the position in 1901, and although the records do not show all the years, yet we think he has been in ever since that date, and yet fills the place.


COLLECTORS.


The first year after township organization was adopted, John M. Cress was collector. He was followed in 1874, 1875 and 1876 by D. A. Gilmore. In 1877, Charles L. Brockman filled the office. Then in 1878 came John H. Hick- man, and for the next nine years he held it.


904


HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


In 1SSS, William A. McDavid held the script, followed by A. W. Harris, in 1889 and W. E. Lee in 1890. F. W. Ludwig filled the office in 1891, and Jesse H. Barrett the year following. He was succeeded by Eugene Smith in 1893, and Edward C. Newton in 1894. In 1895, W. M. Neff was the publican and Frank Weingand the next year. Then the one-year record was broken by Gilbert B. Smith, who served during 1897, 1898 and 1899. In 1900, J. Frank Hammock was the collector and Joseph B. IIelston stepped in his shoes the year following. John C. Barkley then tried his hand during 1902, and W. D. Hammock during 1903. Records do not show who filled the office during the next six years, but in 1910 we find Charles F. McHenry collect- ing, and W. F. Hichman during 1911. W. R. Potter filled the office for the next two years, and then Mrs. Maude Masters ran as an inde- pendent and outdistanced the field, and filled the office during 1914 and 1915. She is turn was beaten by an injured miner, Jacob Birzelle in 1916, who will earn the emoluments of the office for the following two years.


JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.


The following have been the justices of the peace for Hillsboro Precinct and Township : H. C. Burroughs, 1838; Rueben Ross, 1839 ; Wil- liam Brewer, 1847, 1857, 1851 and 1866; Hiram Rountree, 1842 and several other terms; John M. McEwan, 1842; M. L. Curhman, 1845; Dan Lingofelter, 1846; Joseph T. Eccles, 1850, 1857, 1861, 1865 and 1869; William Corlew, 1857, 1861, and 1866; David M. Ewan, 1857; E. S. Burns, 1861 and 1890; John M. Keith, 1865 and 1881; John W. Kitchell, 1865; George W. Pais- ley, 1869 and 1873; Charles H. Edwards, 1873; Warren T. Jenkins, 1873; William C. Ralston, 1877; Charles E. McCord, 1877; William T. Coale, 1877; Marion C. McWilliams, 1878 and 1889 ; Fred A. Randal, 1881, 1SS5 and 1893; Alex- ander A. Cress, 1884, 1885 and 1889; Joseph F. Pollard, 1885; Henry Freidmeyer, 1890 and 1893 ; Frank C. Crisswell, 1893; Charles W. Grassell, 1895. 1897, 1901, 1905 and 1909; John T. Mad- dox, 1897, 1901, 1905 and 1909; Samuel T. Har- ris, 1897 ; Samuel A. Kime, 1901, 1905 and 1909 ; A. E. Neal, 1913; J. T. Edwards. 1914.


CONSTABLES.


The following have served Hillsboro Precinct and Township as constables : John T. Whit-


ledge and John I. Davis, 1857; M. M. Stuckey and George W. Brown, 1857; E. T. Sammons and Jolın L. Marshall, 1861; W. H. Jenkins, 1861 and 1866; Julius F. Barringer, 1862; William N. Stephenson, 1862 and 1865; Anson G. Kelley, 1862; Edwin R. Grubbs, 1865; Alexander Wood- son, 1866; John H. Marton, 1868; Harden W. Nelson, 1869; David A. Gilmore, 1869 and 1873; Joseph M. DeSart, 1869; Columbus J. Lipe, 1869 ; John Allison. 1873; William B. Bishop, 1873; Benjamin F. Wilton, 1876, 1877 and 1897 ; Thomas J. Reeves, 1877 and 1SS1; C. A. Free- land, 1877 and 1881; Robert H. Mann,- 1881, 1885, 1889, 1893, 1897 and 1901; William F. Burns, 1883 and 1885; William S. Parris, 1885; Henry M. Worrell, 1888 and 1889; Harry J. Handcock, 1889; William S. Boone, 1893, 1905, 1907 and 1910; R. P. Hughes, 1893 land 1897 ; C. B. Hampton, 1901; Nelson Brockman, 1901; W. P. Whitten, 1903 and 1905; Martin Hammack, 1905 and 1909; Raymond Masur, 1909; James . W. Green, 1909; S. E. Washburn, 1912 and 1913; Wilson O. May, 1913; Burl E. Watson, 1913; M. L. Cress, 1913.


CHAPTER XXIX.


IRVING TOWNSHIP.


ORIGIN OF NAME-PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS- FIRST SETTLEMENTS-EARLY SETTLERS-FIRST MILLS - ROADS - EARLY SETTLERS OF IRVING TOWNSHIP-IRVING -- EARLY BUSINESS AND PRO- FESSIONAL MEN - CHURCHES - METHODIST - PRESBYTERIAN-LUTHERAN - CHRISTIAN - FREE METHODIST - PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS - FRATERNITIES-IRVING WOMEN'S IMPROVEMENT CLUB-POLICE MAGISTRATES-LOCAL OFFICIALS- SUPERVISORS-JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-TOWN CLERKS-CONSTABLES.


ORIGIN OF NAME.


Township 9, range 3 gets its name from the town of Irving, which was the only town within its borders when township organization was adopted. The township corners at its southwest point with the northeast corner of Hillsboro Township.


905


HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.


The soil in the eastern part is largely of a black loamy character, and necessarily very productive. In the southwestern and southern . parts the soil generally is a grey gravelly clay character, not so rich as the prairie soils, but better adapted to wheat and fruit raising. Originally a large part of this township was heavily timbered with forests of the various oaks, elm, hickory, some walnut, sycamore and cotton wood growths. Middle Fork of Shoal creek is the only stream of much size. It crosses the township and into this several small branches empty their waters and help to drain the township.


FIRST SETTLEMENTS.


Irving Township was settled quite soon after the county began to be peopled, and is in point of development one of the oldest in the county. The town of Irving will be noticed further on. The township has another small town within its borders ; that of Peacock, but as that has been embraced within the corporate limits of Schram City, it is further noticed as a part of that town which is more fully mentioned in the township of East Fork. Peacock was established on a farm formerly the property of a Mr. Peacock, from whom it was named, but was changed to Kort- kamp as the result of the sinking of a coal shaft at that location along the line of the Big Four Railroad and about three miles northeast from Hillsboro some fifteen years ago. Its prox- imity to Hillsboro prevents it from being more than a coal mining town, though it has some good stores and is a nice little burg.


EARLY SETTLERS.


John L. Franklin, in about 1826, located in the western part of the township, and about 1828, James and Mark Rutledge, brothers, came from Kentucky and settled not far from Mr. Franklin's cabin. A few months later Ezra Bostick, an old Revolutionary soldier, settled about a mile from where Irving now stands. Joel Knight, another of the first settlers, was a son-in-law of Mr. Bostick, and adopted the ministry as his calling, and as a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, was influential in doing a great deal of good morally among the early set- tlers of the county. It is interesting to give in


this connection a description of the cabin of Mr. Franklin, acknowledged to be the first settler of Irving Township, that is quoted in part from an earlier. history :


"The dimensions of the structure were about fifteen by eighteen feet. One room was the sum total of the apartments it contained, which answered the four-fold purpose of kitchen, bed- room, dining room and parlor. The floor was made of split logs, called puncheons. These had been smoothed off with a common chopping ax until they composed a surface that was tolerably level. A large, open-mouthed fire- place, capable of receiving a log of almost any dimensions, occupied very nearly an entire end of the building. The furniture of the room was of the most primitive character, and in perfect harmony with the interior of the apartment as we have described it."


The description of Mr. Franklin's pioneer home could be used for that of almost any of the pioneers of Montgomery County. Although these cabins were small and overcrowded, and they were never overstocked, no stranger was ever permitted to go away hungry from those doors and no matter how many were already housed place was always found for one more. Such hospitality has measurably passed but the memory sweetens the history of those times, and brings longings for a more primitive state of society, when every man's hand was not against his brother, and the dollar was not the open sesame to much of this world's kindliness.


The Rutledges, who came to this town- ship in 1828, located near the boundary line of the western part. Mark Rutledge, however, soon thereafter moved to Hillsboro Town- ship. John Lipe came to the northern part of the township about 1828, from North Carolina, settling on section 3. James Kelly was another who settled here prior to 1830, locating on sec- tion 27, in 1829. Andrew King came here prior to 1830, locating about one and one-half miles northwest of what later became the town of Irving, on section 16. His land was covered with a heavy sedge grass from which the pioneers made their first brooms. James M. Berry located on section 16, in 1829, and owned the greater part of the present site of Irving. John Christian also must be numbered among the settlers prior to 1830, and he had the dis- tinction of being one of the first Baptist preach- ers in this section. John Grantham arrived in 1830 and bought a farm in the southwestern


906


IIISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


part of the township. He was also a Methodist preacher whose sons for years were associated with the history of the township. Other early settlers were: John A. and William J. Wiley who came about 1832; W. B. Grantham, D. T. Hefley and W. W. Weber who came about 1842; John Weller, J. I. McDavid, R. H. McCord, L. D. Lipe. H. Mowrey, J. M. Romine, Louis Weller, E. Lipe, Antoine Miller. The Bostick settlement became one of the leading communities in the county at an early day. A church and ceme- tery were established there and the cemetery is now known as Hopewell.


The village of Irving did not have corporate existence till about 1844 when J. M. Taulbee is said to have built the first house where the vil- lage now stands. After several houses had been built a man named Irving opened a store there, and it was from him that the town received its name. William Bowles came from Madison County and settled in Irving when it was quite small, as did also Thomas Black. Jacob Lyerla, Edwin Platt, David Gregory, Scott Barry and others settled either in the village or near to it in early days. Others to come with the approxi- mate times of their arrival were : John A. Wiley, 1832; William J. Wiley, same year; W. B. Gran- tham, 1842; and same year were D. T. Hefley and W. W. Weber. John Weller about 1840; J. J. McDavid, about 1843; R. H. McCord about 1845; L. D. Lipe about 1849; H. Mowery about 1864 ; and J. Milton Romine the same year ; Louis Wel- ler in 1865; E. Lipe in 1871, and Antoine Miller not till 1883. All these men were prominent in the township affairs in the days that are past. James M. Rutledge was living in the township at quite an early day, but moved over into Hills- boro Township before the adoption of township organization. John Lipe came also soon after the above mentioned event. It was in 1829 that James Kelly, the progenitor of the numerous Kelly family of today, came into the township, and soon after him John Christian arrived on the scene of activity. A man named McIntyre taught a school in the Hopewell settlement, which was probably the first school taught in the township. J. H. Spears with a medicine case arrived in the township in about 1838. H. J. Huestes has the credit of building the first brick building in the township, it was a store building in the newly laid out town of Irving. During the seventies a Grange was organized in Irving con- sisting of the leading farmers of the country surrounding the village. It was known as Irving Grange No. 405. J. W. Coffey was its master and


William Bowles its scribe. Among its members were : David Gregory, Jacob Lyerla, Thomas Black and many others. The Grange carried on for a while a purchasing agency and also man- aged a warehouse for the storage of farm pro- duce awaiting a suitable sale.


Irving Township and the village have always maintained the name of being a progressive and cultured people. But owing to the proximity to other more progressive towns, it has never grown to large proportions. Easten Whitten, the fa- mous auctioneer and fair manager and crier, lived in Irving during his last score of years. Hiram L. Gregory, one of the best and most cul- tured of the county's superintendents of schools was an Irving product. Rev. W. J. McDavid another educated county superintendent, lived in Irving for many years. Our present county clerk, H. J. Bartlett claims Irving as his home.


FIRST MILLS.


James T. Paden built the first mill in Irving Township in 1831, about three and one-half miles southwest of the village of Irving on the Hillsboro road. It was a primitive horse-power mill, but the settlers of this township and those of Witt and East Fork townships gladly traveled many miles to get their grain to it so as to save themselves the hard work of grinding by hand, or the longer trip to one or other of the equally primitive mills in other parts of the county. After it had been operated as a horse-power mill for about eight years, Ezekiel Grantham bought it, remodeled it, put in new machinery and then shortly thereafter moved the plant to the village of Irving. Although a saw-mill was built in the early days on Shoal Creek by a Mr. Hickman, it was not largely patronized. The first steam mill was built by Kelly & Harris in 1864, about two miles southwest of Irving, and by them was sold one year later to a man named Stevens. He operated it two years and then sold to H. M. Kelly, and Mr. Kelly moved the mill to Irving and conducted it for a couple of years, when the machinery was taken out and used in building another mill at that place. The build- ing was bought by S. F. King who converted it into a barn.


ROADS.


In 1830 an impetus was given to the township by the building of the Hillsboro and Shelbyville road, which was the first one of any importance


,


907


HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


to be built through the township. Another road built about the same time is known as the Hillsboro and Nokomis road, and both are con- stantly traversed. The Old North road is an- other early road, and the East road is also remembered by old settlers.


EARLY SETTLERS OF IRVING TOWNSHIP.


Every community loves its history. A hundred years of trials and difficulties in the effort at community building, with its privations and suc- cesses is well worth looking back over with feelings of reverence for the heroes who measure- ably sacrificed their lives that we might have the civilization and higher attainments that it is our privilege to enjoy. J. M. Kelly has described some of these privations, and shown who were the first settlers in the township and town, and the time of their arrival in a splendid manner, and we attach his article hereto.


"One of the first, if not the first families to settle in Irving Township was the Bostick family, Mr. Bostick being a Revolutionary sold- ier. This family settled two miles south of Irving in 1826, also the families of William and Joel Knight came about this year. Joel Knight was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. I heard him preach often. L. Franklin came in 1828 and settled in the west side. James and Mark Rutledge settled in the southwestern part of the township in 182S. John Grantham with a family of eight boys and five girls settled one mile south of Irving in 182S, this settlement being known as the Grantham Settlement. John Lipe settled in the north side near where St. John's' Lutheran Church now stands. Mr. Trimper was the minister at this time, also Mr. Springer. I have heard them preach often. There were other families back in 1830 ; the Carrikers and Hefleys and Bosts all from North Carolina. William Smith and brothers settled in 1830. They en- tered the land known as the Dew Lipe farm which his son, Ed now owns. John Christian, a Baptist minister. settled two miles north of Irving with a family of boys and girls. Camp- bell, a son, was captain of the muster roll, then all able bodied men having to muster on account of the Indian troubles. I have often seen him drill his men with sword at his side. I have heard John Maddex. now deceased, had the sword. Willliam Smith owned a mill for grind- ing castor beans. I sold him castor beans in 1845 at thirty-five cents a bushel. John Lipe


had a family of six boys and six girls. I went to school with the younger ones. A great many of their descendents are living close to St. John's Church. James Kelly and a Hightower landed in Hillsboro in 1829 without a penny. Mr. Burnap kept them a few days until Kelly got a job at $S.00 per month. In the spring of 1S30 James Kelly built a cabin where the Irving cemetery now is. He boarded with Mark Rutledge, three iniles southwest while building his cabin. In 1830 the Padens came. In 1S31 James Paden put a grist-mill on the Paden mound and later sold it to Mr. E. Grantham and in a few years Grantham and Franklin traded farms and Franklin came into possession of the mill. Then the Wileys, Davises, Wilsons, Kings, and Thom- ases settled in 1830 in the northwest of the town- ship. A Mr. Pierre entered the farm known as the Seth Washburn farm and in 1832 sold it to George Cockelreas where he raised his family. From 1834 to 1839 the Gregories, Neislers, Lewies, Roberts. Lyerlies, Morains, Manns, An- dersons. Lipes, Tombolins. Satterlies, Irvins and Hightowers settled in the county. In 1840 James Markham came here from Kentucky, with wife, boy, and girl, on horseback, with their goods on their backs, and in saddle bags. The said girl is my neighbor today in Irving. In 1830 the Methodists erected a church one mile from Irving southward. and called it Hopewell. A cemetery was begun there also which still bears the name Hopewell. Later a shed was erected to accommodate camp meetings. A min- ister came there from Hillsboro, originally from Boston, and he with Reverend Granthan did the preaching. Peter Cartwright as the traveling presiding elder of the Methodist Church also preached there. He rode horseback over a large portion of Southern Illinois. I heard him preach often. Some of our writers say, that the first schoolhouse in this township was built in 1827, but I have not been able to locate it. There were but few children in Irving Township in 1827. There were a few deserted cabins and subscription schools were taught in them. James Jenkins and his sister taught in Hopewell Church. Later Wesley King, Robert Christian, John Franklin and Fletcher King, taught in the township. North of Irving a schoolhouse was built in about 1847. This was the first frame schoolhouse in the township, those prior to this time being of logs. This schoolhouse was later moved into Irving village. Wesley King taught a sixty day school in 1837 for $36.00. I went to


908


HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


all of the above named teachers, and all of them were subscription schools. W. L. King taught the first school in the township under our present free school system, which was in 1849. A nephew of Wesley King, James Wilson, then eighteen years of age, was the county constable, and later his son Newton was one of our first teachers. In 1830 Mattison Berry came and settled close to where Irving now stands, and entered the land from the government, General Jackson being president and signing the war- rant. His grandson is now the postmaster at Irving. Scott Berry, his brother entered the land where Irving stands today. Ile sold the land in 1844 to Absolem Cress of Hillsboro. In 1846 Mattison Berry bought the land from Mr. Cress and in 1854 sold it to Mr. Higgins and Mr. Rider of Alton. The railroad survey was made in 1854 and the road was graded. In 1855 Hig- gins and Rider had the town platted and named it Irving. Mattison Berry was in the Black Hawk War in Capt. Rountree's company. His father came with him from Kentucky and died here in 1840. In November, 1855, T. G. Black and W. S. Berry erected a storehouse on the east side of the railroad track. The land on that side at that time was in corn and the eorn not gathered. It was fenced with rails, so that in going to the store the fence had to be laid down in order to get there. W. W. Wiley was railroad agent and postmaster at that time. In 1858 Black and Wiley erected a larger building for store purposes. Black and Wiley also built two briek houses in 1859. These were the first brick houses in Irving. About this time several other houses were built. James Kelly built a storehouse. James Taulbee eame to Irving in 1860, Newberry, Bird, and Cowell came from Staunton here in 1858. Irving was incorporated in 1854. Our first blacksmith was a man named Bell. Doctor Petra lived in the county and practiced in Irving, but our first resident doetor was Mr. Spears. Mrs. Spears still lives here. Jacob Bohn's father eame here from North Caro- lina in 1844 in a one-horse wagon with a family of eight. Mrs. Bohn died on the way and was buried in Tennessee. John Redman came here in 1845 from North Carolina. Noah Kelly, father of James Kelly, eame here in 1830 from Tennessee. Richard Hix and wife came here in 1831. John H. Beatty came here in 1839 from Pennsylvania. The two Rogers families came here in 1835. The Aults came in 1851. Thomas Christian came here in 1830. William D. Sey-




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.